Dutch Fort Vredenburgh
Fort Vredenburgh (Dutch)
Built in: 1682, also around 2 years before the British Fort
By: The Dutch West India Company
Reason: To solidify Dutch trade dominance in the area and support their allies in the Eguafo Kingdom.
The British Fort Komenda is located right in the heart of Komenda, directly on the beachfront, and easily accessible from the town center.
The Dutch Fort Vredenburgh was built across the Komenda River, on the opposite bank, and is less accessible today, often hidden by vegetation and more remote.
The British fort has a four-bastioned square design, common in English coastal fort architecture from the late 1600s.
Many online photos mislabel Fort Komenda as Fort Vredenburgh, especially because Vredenburgh is rarely visited or photographed today. Fort Vredenburgh is not directly in town and would likely require a guided visit or local knowledge to even locate today, as it's more overgrown and less maintained. Fort Vredenburgh, the Dutch fort, is still in existence, but it is not the structure typically seen in widely circulated images.
Ruins of the Dutch Fort at Komenda (c) by Wikimedia
Built by: The Dutch West India Company
Built in: Around 1682
Purpose: Also for trade, and to compete directly with the British.
Name: Officially called Fort Vredenburgh (sometimes spelled Vredenburg).
Why Two Forts in One Place?
The area of Komenda was highly strategic for trade — the local rulers (like the Eguafo) were powerful and could negotiate with multiple European powers. The Dutch and British were rivals, and they each tried to gain influence by building forts near each other and forming alliances with different local factions.
In some cases, the two forts even exchanged cannon fire, despite being right next door to one another.
Timeline & Political Dynamics at Komenda
Pre-1680s: Local Power & Early European Interests
The Eguafo Kingdom, part of the Akan-speaking peoples, controlled the area around Komenda.
Eguafo was rich in gold and controlled trade routes inland — making it attractive to European powers.
The Dutch and English had both been trading in the area informally for decades but had no permanent structures yet.
1682: The Dutch Build Fort Vredenburgh
The Dutch West India Company, eager to expand its influence and protect its trade, built Fort Vredenburgh.
They made alliances with local factions, particularly those in Eguafo who favored Dutch protection and trade dominance.
This was part of a broader Dutch strategy to outcompete the English all along the Gold Coast.
1684: The English Build Fort Komenda
Just two years later, the British Royal African Company responded by building their own fort right next to the Dutch — Fort Komenda.
This was done with the approval of a rival faction in Eguafo that supported British trade.
Essentially, the local Akan leadership was divided — and both the Dutch and British exploited this to get a foothold.
1680s–1690s: Rivalry Turns Violent
Both forts were within cannon range of each other — and there were times they exchanged fire.
The rivalry extended into local politics: the Dutch and English backed different claimants to the Eguafo throne in a series of conflicts now known as the Komenda Wars.
The local rulers were savvy — sometimes playing the Dutch and English against each other for better trade terms.
1694: The Komenda Wars Peak
These were proxy wars, where European powers and African allies fought for control of Komenda.
The British-backed prince (Takyi Kuma) eventually gained the upper hand with their help.
However, after this, the British temporarily withdrew from Komenda.
1700s–1800s: Forts Decline and Change Hands
Over the 18th century, both forts declined in importance as trade shifted and European focus moved elsewhere.
Eventually, in 1872, the Dutch sold all their possessions on the Gold Coast (including Fort Vredenburgh) to the British.
From then on, both forts were under British control — though by then they were mostly symbolic.
A Political Case Study:
The Komenda region is a case study in African agency during early colonial contact.
Local rulers weren't passive; they were active negotiators, power brokers, and warriors, shaping the outcome of events.
The Dutch and English weren't just fighting each other — they were also deeply entangled in Akan politics and succession.
The Komenda Wars are one of the most fascinating examples of how African internal politics and European colonial rivalry became deeply entangled. The Dutch were there first to have a Fort — and the British showed up later to challenge them, creating the tensions that sparked the Komenda Wars.
If You're in Komenda
Ask a local or elder:
“Where is the old Dutch fort — the one across the river from Fort Komenda?”
Many locals know the difference and may guide you to the actual Fort Vredenburgh site, though it's often forgotten in favor of the more visible British fort.